The Early and the Latter Rain

The rain in Israel fell periodically, at set seasons of the year — the one about seed time, the other just before harvest. The former prepared the ground for the seed — the latter filled the ear and prepared the corn for the sickle. Truth is often compared to rain in God's Word, and in this book you will find truth calculated to impress the mind of the sinner, and lead him to seek salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Here are some portions intended to convince of sin, righteousness, and the judgment to come — and to lead the convinced one to the cross for refuge and for rest. This is the early rain.
And here also, are portions designed . . .
to comfort those who are cast down, 
to refresh those who are weary, 
to strengthen those who are weak, 
to decide those who are wavering, 
to stimulate those who are declining, 
to recover those who have wandered, and 
to benefit all classes in the family of God.
This is the latter rain.